Jomari Yllana
couldn’t help but laugh to himself as he looked back at the time he was caught by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in illegal drag racing, although he clarified that it became a lesson for him to be mindful of road rules.
Yllana recalled during the launch of his upcoming Motorsport Carnivale in Okada Manila, that when he was caught, he was addressed by Estrada as co-member along with Mark Anthony Fernandez of the teen group Gwapings back in the 1990s.
“I was known with the nickname ‘Shooh,’ so ‘yung kotse ko may plaka na ‘Shooh.’ Hinuli [ni Jinggoy] lahat ng mga plaka na kolorum [and he] was asking us one by one. Nakapila kami [tapos] nasa dulo ako, and then tinuro niya ako. Sabi niya, ‘Diba ikaw ‘yung kasama ni Mark Anthony [Fernandez]? ‘Yung sa Gwapings?” he said.
(I was known with the nickname “Shooh,” so Mt car had ‘Shoo’ on its plate. Jinggoy then caught the cars with colorum plate numbers, and he asked us one by one. We were lined up and I was at the back. He then pointed at me and said, “Aren’t you with Mark Anthony Fernandez in Gwapings?”)
In response, the actor took the recognition in stride and was even asked by the actor-turned-senator to give his regards to the film producer Douglas Quijano. He was able to get his driver’s license back, but his car plate ended up getting confiscated.
“‘Kamusta mo kay Douglas Quijano,’ [sabi ni Jinggoy]. ‘Babalik ka sa’yo itong lisensya mo, pero wag mo sasabihin sa iba ha? Pero tong plaka mo, hindi ko na ito babalik’ sayo (Send my regards to Douglas Quijano. I will return your license, but don’t tell this to anyone. However, I won’t return your car plate),” he recalled, noting that this moment reminded him to follow rules at all times.
Aside from following road rules, the experience also dawned on Yllana to take up drag racing professionally.
“Sa akin, it was an experience [and a time of] learning. You need to follow the rules. Big impact siya in my life. As a driver on the streets and also as a competitor in the short stint of underground drag racing, I went professional after that,” he said.
(For me, it was an experience and a time of learning. You need to follow the rules. It made a huge impact on my life. As a driver on the streets and also as a competitor in the short stint of underground drag racing, I went professional after that.)
Since then, the actor-turned-politician has made his passion for racing a professional career, having founded the Yllana Racing Team in 2011. He is also one of the organizers of the 2025 edition of the Okada Manila Motorsport Carnivale, which formally begins today, May 4. It will cap off with what he dubs as the “largest night race” on June 21-22.
On acting comeback
Yllana also confirmed to reporters that he will return to acting in the Erik Matti-helmed “Call My Manager,” a Filipino adaptation of the Turkish series “Menajerimi Ara.” Details on his fellow cast members and possible plot changes are yet to be announced.
“My character is bad. It is my warm-up [as my return] to acting,” he said. “I’m actually more excited [about] the production. When you’re an actor, you have to be physically prepared.”
The actor further shared that he has been preparing himself physically and mentally, saying he is “excited” to accept offers.
“As long as I can still memorize the dialogue in the script, I will accept film offers. I’m very excited… I will [prepare for it], body, mind and soul. Pagsasabayin ko na (I will balance it with my daily activities). I have an eye condition. I take stem cell treatment for my eyes. I have a few wrinkles here and there. I have to address a few issues with my body,” he said.
Yllana, who ventured into politics in 2016, made his last appearance in the 2015 drama “The Half Sisters.”